The hospitality industry, worth about $4.548 trillion in the past year, is hardly at the forefront of technological advancements adoption, especially restaurants. However, the reverse is the case with advanced LED interactive restaurant tables.
These tables are embedded with durable LED screens, allowing customers to place orders, make payments, play games, and do other interactive activities from the comfort of their seats. Keep reading to learn more about restaurant interactive tables and how they streamline kitchen operations.
What Is an Interactive Restaurant Table (IRT)?
An Interactive Restaurant Table is an advanced table used in restaurants to enhance the dining experience for customers. It uses LED screens and combines the functions of a regular dining table with interactive features integrated into the tabletop itself. These features include touchscreens, and embedded displays, allowing customers to engage with various digital content and services.
IRT provides an interactive and immersive experience for diners, allowing them to access information, place orders, customize their meals, watch chefs prepare their meals, play games, and perform other activities, all from the convenience of their table. It adds a new dimension to dining, making it more engaging, entertaining, and efficient.
How Does Restaurant Interactive Table Technology Work?
Restaurant interactive table technology relies on hardware and software components to create a seamless and interactive customer experience. Here’s a breakdown of the key elements:
- Hardware: The tabletop itself is the centerpiece of the interactive dining table. Many restaurants opt for LED displays; due to their flexibility, display quality, and high refresh rates. The LED screens and other hardware components are integrated into the table’s design, providing a smooth and intuitive user interface.
- Software: The software running on the IRT enables interactive features and functionalities. It includes a user interface allowing customers to navigate various options and make selections. The software is custom-designed for each restaurant, depending on the requirements and preferences of the establishment.
- Interactive Content and Services: IRTs offer various interactive content and services. Customers can browse digital menus, view images and descriptions of dishes, check nutritional information, and even place their orders directly from the table.
Customers can also access entertainment options such as games, quizzes, social media, and interactive experiences, keeping them engaged while waiting for food. Some IRTs even integrate payment systems, allowing customers to settle their bills from the table.
- Connectivity: Interactive restaurant tables require a robust internet connection to access real-time information and communicate with the backend systems. This connectivity enables seamless integration with the restaurant’s ordering system, kitchen management software, and other operational components.
- Staff Interaction: Although IRTs provide customers with self-service options, they do not replace the role of restaurant staff entirely. Instead, the technology works alongside the staff, streamlining operations and improving efficiency. Staff members are still available to assist customers, answer questions, and ensure a smooth dining experience.
Features of Interactive Restaurant Tables
The interactive restaurant table design combines LED display technology and other features, providing customers with the best dining experience traditional systems cannot provide. While waiting for your order as a customer, here are certain features you can enjoy in a restaurant leveraging interactive LED tables to streamline processes;
- Sensors: Interactive restaurant tables use LED screens equipped with touch-sensitive sensors built to respond to the touch of customers’ fingers and inanimate objects touch. This allows for intuitive interaction with the digital interface, making it easy for customers to navigate through menus, select options, and explore various features.
- Multi-touch Capabilities: Multi-touch interactive restaurant tables can accommodate multiple users simultaneously, and the LED screen size flexibility allows for group interactions and collaborations. For example, friends or family members can collectively explore the menu, play multiplayer games, or customize shared dishes.
- Diamond Glass: IRTs are built with extra durable LED screens and diamond glass, offering a high degree of shielding against potential damages. This includes protection against scratches, impacts, spills, and other potential hazards in a restaurant setting.
- Ultra-high 4K Display: IRTs are built with ultra-high LED 4K resolution for vivid and clear display. This allows the display image, videos, or graphics to appear pop and highlight colors that resemble the original content.
- Integration with Payment Systems: Most IRTs are equipped with integrated payment systems, allowing customers to settle their bills from the table. They can review the order details, split the bill, and make payments using credit cards or mobile payment apps, saving time for both customers and staff.
- Multilingual Support: IRTs cater to customers from diverse backgrounds by providing multilingual support. The digital interface can be programmed to display menus and information in different languages, ensuring that all customers can easily understand and navigate the options available.
- Real-time Updates: IRTs provide real-time updates on the availability of dishes, especially for items that may be limited in quantity or seasonal. Customers can receive notifications or alerts if a dish is unavailable or if any substitutions or specials are available.
IRTs combine these features to provide seamless communication between customers and restaurant staff. Customers who have questions, need assistance or want to make additional requests can easily interact with the staff through the interactive interface.
Benefits of Interactive Restaurant Table
About 20% of customers say they’d prefer to interact with modern table technology other than a waiter, and that is because interactive restaurant table tops offer numerous benefits for customers, allowing them full control of their dining experience and ensuring their specific needs are met comfortably. Some of these advantages include:
- Enhanced Dining Experience: Customers can explore digital menus, view dish details and images, customize orders, play restaurant table games for families, or access entertainment options. This interactive element adds a sense of novelty and enjoyment to the dining experience, making it more memorable and enjoyable.
- Reduced Waiting Time: With IRTs, customers can browse menus, place orders, and make special requests directly from their tables. This eliminates the need for waiting for staff to take orders manually, reducing waiting times and ensuring accurate order placement.
- Convenience and Control: Interactive tabletop restaurants offer convenience by allowing customers to browse menus and make selections at their own pace. They don’t need to wait for a server’s attention to place an order or request information. Customers have control over their dining experience.
For restaurant owners, LED IRTs use automation and enable restaurant owners to;
- Increase Efficiency: IRTs streamline restaurant operations by automating various processes. With customers placing orders through the LED screen, staff can focus on food preparation and service rather than taking excessive orders.
- Upselling and Cross-selling Opportunities: Using intelligent recommendation systems, the LED-enabled tables can suggest additional menu items, upgrades, or complementary dishes based on customer preferences. This automatically boosts sales and increases revenue for the restaurant.
- Improved Table Turnover: With customers placing orders from the table, the time taken for ordering and bill settlement automatically reduces. This increases sales profitability by over 10.70% since customers tend to place orders and finish their meals early.
Limitations of Interactive Restaurant Tables
Interactive restaurant tables have certain disadvantages that may hinder their adoption rates. These limitations include the following;
- Training: Some customers, especially older or less tech-savvy individuals, may find it challenging to navigate and use the interactive features of the table. This can result in a slower ordering process or a need for additional assistance from staff, which might affect the restaurant’s efficiency.
- Accessibility: Users with visual impairments may struggle to read small text or navigate the touchscreen interface effectively. Restaurants with interactive tables must have accessibility in mind to cater to the needs of all customers.
- Costs: Purchasing LED screens, installing them, and maintaining these tables and any associated software licensing fees can be prohibitive for smaller establishments or those operating on tight budgets.
Factors to Consider When Setting Up an Interactive Table for Your Restaurant
Several factors must be considered when setting up an interactive table for your restaurant. Some of these include;
- Purpose: Determine the purpose and goals of implementing an interactive table. Is it to enhance the customer experience, streamline the ordering process, or uniquely showcase your menu? Understanding your objectives will help you make informed decisions throughout the setup process.
- Customer Base: Consider your target audience and customer base. Will they be receptive to the interactive table concept? Are they likely to embrace the technology or prefer a more traditional dining experience? Understanding your customers’ preferences and behaviors will help you tailor the interactive table experience to their needs.
- Menu and Ordering System Integration: Ensure the interactive table integrates with your menu and ordering system. Customers should be able to browse the menu, view detailed descriptions, make modifications, and place orders seamlessly.
- Budget: Many factors influence the cost of a LED IRT. Regular software updates, hardware maintenance, and periodic checks are necessary to keep the tables functioning optimally. Consider the associated costs for the LED display and other hardware and software components.
What Is Restaurant Interactive Table Price?
Basic, small-sized models of interactive LED tables start around $500 to $2,500. These LED-enabled tables usually have standard touchscreen functionality and basic menu browsing and ordering features. On the flip side, if you want a mid-range interactive restaurant table offering more advanced features and customization options, your budget should run from $3,000 to $7,000.
Conclusion
Interactive restaurant tables are one of the most remarkable innovations in the industry. As technology advances, the hospitality industry will continue to experience massive changes. If you are in the market for high-quality LED screens for your interactive restaurant tables, contact NSE LED. They offer the best commercial LED displays for restaurants and unlimited customer support.
